Careers & pathways
How to become a mental health support worker in Australia
Mental health workers support people experiencing mental illness, including in peer roles drawing on lived experience.
The work
What the job involves
- Support recovery-oriented planning
- Provide day-to-day practical and emotional support
- Connect people to services and supports
- Use lived experience in peer roles
- Maintain case notes and reporting
Where the work happens
Community services, clinical settings and outreach, often working with people in crisis.
Licensing and registration
Roles commonly require a police check, and a Working with Children Check where the work involves young people.
Typical qualification pathway
The qualifications usually used to enter this work
One entry qualification is Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (CHC43515), a nationally recognised qualification on the national register. The registered training organisations approved to deliver and issue it are listed on training.gov.au.
One entry qualification is Diploma of Mental Health (CHC53315), a nationally recognised qualification on the national register. The registered training organisations approved to deliver and issue it are listed on training.gov.au.
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